Cervical tenaculum device

Abstract

A surgical device comprising a shaft comprised of a first end and a second end; a clamp configured to be locked or unlocked attached to the first end of the shaft; an actuator shaft that is removably coupled to the shaft and configured to open and close the clamp; and optionally an anchor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A surgical device comprising:
 a shaft comprised of a first end and a second end; 
 a clamp configured to be locked or unlocked that is attached to the first end of the shaft; and 
 an actuator shaft that is removably coupled to the shaft, slidable along the shaft, and configured to open and close the clamp; and 
 a tether which is removably coupled to the first end of the shaft and configured to apply tension to the clamp. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is at least partially flexible at one or more points along its length, and the actuator shaft is at least partially flexible at one or more points along its length. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is comprised of one or more prongs. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein a number of prongs is two. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more prongs end in a tip that curves inwards towards a medial longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the clamp further comprises a housing that the one or more prongs at least partially withdraw into when the actuator shaft is not engaged. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the clamp is in a closed position when the actuator shaft is not engaged. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises one or more locking handles configured to attach to the shaft and to prevent the actuator shaft from sliding off of the shaft. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator shaft is at least partially comprised of a coil. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator shaft is configured to lock when twisted. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator shaft is further comprised of a segment that is removably coupled to the shaft and is at least partially flexible. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is further comprised of an anchor. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein the anchor is removably coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor is comprised of a secondary clamp. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor coupled to the shaft by inserting the shaft into an aperture in the anchor. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the shaft is at least partially flexible. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 16 , wherein the aperture in the anchor is configured to direct the shaft at least partially away from a center line of the device. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is rigid along at least a part of its length and flexible along at least another part. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator shaft is further comprised of two handles wherein one handle is removably coupled to a proximal end of the actuator shaft and the second handles is removably coupled to a distal end of the actuator shaft. 
     
     
       20. A surgical device comprising:
 an interior shaft wherein at least a portion of the shaft is flexible, and the interior shaft is comprised of a first end and a second end wherein the second end of the interior shaft is threaded; 
 a clamp configured to be locked or unlocked attached to the first end and comprised of two prongs that are coupled at a pivot point; a tether which is removably coupled to the first end of the shaft and configured to apply tension to the clamp; 
 two or more shaft locking handles; and 
 an actuator shaft removably coupled to the shaft and configured to slide over at least part of the shaft and open and close the clamp when the actuator shaft is pressed towards the clamp, wherein the actuator shaft is coupled to the shaft by sliding a first shaft locking handle over the interior shaft, then the actuator shaft over the interior shaft, and then a second shaft locking handle behind the actuator shaft so that the first shaft locking handles prevent the actuator shaft from sliding off of the interior shaft in either direction.